Let me be one of the first to commend owner Rick Porter for turning a deaf ear to the folks clamoring to see his superstar filly, Songbird, take on the boys.

If some had their way, Songbird would have skipped last week’s Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga in favor of Sunday’s Haskell Invitational at Monmouth. They’d prefer she skip the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 20 in favor of the Travers Stakes a week later.

But let’s hold on here. What’s the rush? I understand the debate about whether she’s the best 3-year-old of 2016, regardless of sex. I believe she is. I think her jockey, Mike Smith, also believes Songbird could beat any 3-year-old colt alive, but does she have to prove that now?

There was some question before the Coaching Club American Oaks whether Songbird was even the best 3-year-old filly this year. Some thought Carina Mia was superior heading into the race, and at the head of the stretch, when Carina Mia drew even with Songbird, it appeared they might have been right. The Bill Mott-trained filly looked poised to race right on by.

But while Carina Mia is a very good filly, Songbird is an exceptional one. Songbird, superbly conditioned by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, accepted the challenge like a champion will, finding an extra gear and drawing off to leave Carina Mia in her wake. She won by 5 1/4 lengths to stretch her record to 9-0 and left us all searching for the appropriate superlatives.

So what now?

Porter says there’s no chance Songbird will go in the Travers, that the Alabama Stakes will be her next start. He has maintained all along he won’t run her against the boys until next year, when she’s 4 and stronger and more mature. But recently he said there’s a sliver of a chance the filly’s camp may consider the Breeders’ Cup Classic at the end of the year.

I hope they wait until next year to tackle greater heights. Let California Chrome, Beholder, Nyquist and the rest of ‘em battle it out in this year’s Classic, which hopefully will be one for the ages, and run Songbird in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. As Smith himself said earlier this year, “There’s nothing wrong with beating your own gender and hopefully racking up as many wins as you can.”

There will be time enough for Songbird to rack up wins against the boys next year. Beholder didn’t take on her male counterparts until she was 5, and when she did, in last year’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar, she won by a near-record 8 1/4 lengths. Zenyatta was also 5 when she became the only distaffer to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2009.

I want to see Songbird at her best through next year. I don’t want to see the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro suffer the same fate as the great Rachel Alexandra, who enjoyed a 3-year-old season for the ages when she beat the boys three times only to suffer the consequences the following year. She was never the same filly after her grueling victory in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.

Racing needs its superstars. We don’t need our favorite horses being given tasks that might take too much out of them. Yes, give them challenges when they’re ready for them, but don’t overtax ‘em to the point where their brilliance is diminished down the line.

We could have something extraordinarily special in Songbird. Just ask Smith, who’s been aboard for all of the filly’s races and was especially moved after her latest victory.

“A lot of times, a true champion, this will move them up,” he told Saratoga publicity. “This was the first time someone got inside of her gut. A lot of times it’ll really move them up, and if that happens, oh my. If this race moves her up like I think it will, there’s no telling how good this filly is.”

I want to see how good Songbird is. I want to see if she’s the next Ruffian. I hope to find out if, when her career’s over, if Smith will tell us she was greater than Zenyatta. Let’s take our time. If, God willing, she races at age 4, I have no doubt Porter will run her against the boys if she continues on her current course.

Songbird has greatness stamped all over her. In a sport where patience is sometimes hard to digest, let’s continue to practice it with this special filly. Time is on her side. Let’s enjoy the ride and see where this journey takes us.

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